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(No Model. 5 Sheets-Sheet 1.

H. KNIGHT. COIN PREED WEIGHING MACHINE.

No. 407,483. Patented July 23, 1889.

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N. PETERS, Fhmwhmogrlphcr. Wahlngton. D, C,

(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 2. H. KNIGHT. COIN PREED WEIGHING MACHINE.

No. 407,483. Patented July 23, 1889.

(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 3. H. KNIGHT. GOIN PREED WEIGHING MAOHINE.

No. 407,483. Patented July 23, 1889.

u. PETERS, PImln-Lilhognphnr. Washington. 0.;

(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 4. H. KNIGHT.

COIN BREED WEIGHING MACHINE.

No. 407,483. Patented July 23', 1889.

i'ili N. PETERS, Phola-Lithngmphey, Washi nnnnnnn c.

(No Model.)

5 Sheets8h eet 5. H. KNIGHT. COIN FREE-D WEIGHING MACHINE.

Patented July 23, 1889.

UNITED STATES HENRY KNIGHT, OF RYDE,

PATENT OFFICE.

ISLE OF IGHT, ENGLAND.

COlN-FREED WElGHlNG-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 407,483, dated July 23,1889.

Application filed March 16, 1889. Serial No. 303,601.

(No model.) Patented in England April 13, 1888, No. 5,492.

matically-acting weighing-machinesthat is to say, to machines by whichthe amount of weight or pressure placed or applied thereon will beindicated when a coin is inserted thereinand the said invention isespecially applicable to spring-balanced platform weighbig-machines.

The obj ect of my said invention is so to construct the mechanism of thesaid machines that upon a person bringing his'or her weight or pressureto bear upon the platform the weighing mechanism will be caused to act,

such action, however, not being indicated in any way; but on a coinorcoins amounting to the required predetermined weight being insertedthe indicating mechanism will then be caused to act and the weight orpressure of the person or goods or other articles upon the platform willbe correctly and accurately indicated.

The invention will be best understood by describing the same withreference to the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the upper portion of a weighing-machineconstructed according to my invention, the dial and indicating-fingerhaving been removed in order to show the mechanism more clearly. Fig. 2is a sectional side elevation of Fig. 1, and Fig. 2 is a side elevationof the base as a continuation of the case in Fig. 2. Fig. 3 isa frontelevation showing enlarged details of the coinreceiving vessel, and Fig.4 is a side elevation of same. Fig. 5 is a front elevation, and Fig. 6 aside elevation, showing a part of the indicatin g mechanism detached anddrawn to a larger scale than the otherfigures. Figs. 7 to 15, inclusive,show various alternative arrangements of the rack, friction-wheels, andparts connected therewith.-

Referring to Figs. 1 to 7, A is the frame or casing of the machine. B Bare coiled springs suspended from brackets B B on the frame A by meansof screw or nutted hooks, so as to be adjustable for varying the tensionof the springs B B, as found necessary. To the lower ends of the springs13 B is suspended a cross-head 0, having a bar O extending downward to acoupling-piece 0 from which latter a bar C extends downward and isconnected to one arm of the compound levers D, which latter arm isdepressed when the weight or pressure comes onto the platform E; Thesaid compound levers, as well as the platform balanced by coiledsprings, have, as I am well aware, been heretofore employed inweighingmaehines of a similar type to thathere shown, and, being wellknown, do not present any feature of novelty norrequire a more detaileddescription The frame-work may be mounted on wheels, as shown, and beprovidedwith a fender or guard around the edge of the platform toprevent more than one person at a time stepping onto the said platform,or more than one person being weighed for one payment.

I will now describe the indicating and coinreceiving mechanism, togetherwith the means for causing it to act in accordance with the weighingmechanism when arranged and constructed according to my said invention.

' ings provided in the upper part of the frame or case of the machine,is a pulley or drum G, havin two circumferential grooves formed thereon,in which grooves are two cords G G secured at their ends and wound inopposite directions. One of these cords G'passes down and suspends thecoin-receiving vessel M, (hereinafter more particularly described) andthe other cord or end G carries a weight G to normally hold thecoinreceiver in its highest position, as shown in Fig. 1. Straps, steelbands, chains, or other equivalents may be employed instead of the cordsG G or there may be one cord instead of two cords.

On one end of the spindle F (carried by a bearing-plate F) is a pointeror finger S,

which by its movement indicates on a dial T the proportionate extensionof the springs caused by the weight or pressure of the person or weightto be weighed, and the variations of extension of the springs are causedby the cross-headC being more or less drawn head which I utilizeaccording to my inven- Mounted on a spindle F, turning in beardownward,and it is this motion of the crosstion, and as hereinafter described, toallow the spindle F and its pointer to be actuated, all as hereinafterdescribed.

0n the spindle Fis apinion F,which gears with a rack H, the said rackbeing guided and held in gear by a grooved friction-wheel J, mounted ona plate K, secured on the frame A, and this wheel J also prevents therack ['I from twisting or turning. The rack and the parts immediatelyconnected therewith are shown in detail in Figs. 5 and 6,where it willbe seen that the rack (proper) I-Iis connected to or formed with acylindrical bar H at its lower end, and is formed with a head H ascrew-nut or collar H being provided to screw onto a tubular guidesocket or sleeve Hflwhich is fixed, by brazing or in any other suitablemanner, to the plate K, and through which guide H the rack liI slides.Thus, the guide H" being simply a tube, the rack may, when so allowed,drop down, being guided by the said guide-tube H. The head H of the rackII is in such a position that when it is lowered it will abut onto aflat-headed screw L, which is screwed into the cross-head O. The weightGr retains the coin-receptacle when empty in its highest position, asshown in Figs. 1 and 2, and by the spindle F and pinion F it alsoretains the rack Hin itshighest position without reference to whatevermay be the position of the cross-head C, and at this time the pointer orfinger should point to zero, and if this is not so then the said pointermay be adjusted and caused to thus point to zero by turning the nut orcollar H Figs. 5, 6, 9, 11, and 12, or the adjusting-screw H Figs. 13and 14, which bears against the rack-head, and will relatively changethe position of the rack, and thereby adjust the position of thepointer.

The coin-receiving vessel M, which is suspended by the cord G, may bekept in a vertical line by two fixed guide-rods N N passing throughloop-eyes on the sides of a frame M, (see Figs. 3 and 4,) that carriesthe receiving-vessel M. The body of the vessel M is made open top andbottom and hung in the frame M by pivots M The lower part of the frameM, coming below the open lower end or bottom of the vessel M, forms abottom for the money to rest on, and there is a projecting arm or leverM answering as a lever for upsetting the receiver M by comingagainst amovable catch 0. This catch 0 is loosely pinned to an adjustable bracket0', mounted on a fixed rod 0 and the catch is rounded at the top edge,but square on the bottom, and is for the purpose of ejecting the coinfrom the rcceiving-vessel by tilting it when it comes in contact withthe flange in its back or upward motion, the money falling through intoa suitable receiver below.

In place of the guide-rods N, I may employ two slotted guides or a tubewith a long slot, and a short piece of smaller-size tube with aprojecting arm at right angles, the arm coming or extending through theslot and the frame of the receiving-vessel being fixed to this arm. Asteel band or cord may be attached to the small tube,which maybe movedup and down inside the large tube freely and act as a guide in the placeof the guide-rods, as aforesaid. The guide-tube is fixed vertically. Ifix a suitable conducting-tube B to convey the coin to thecoin-receiving vessel M.

One, two, or more coins of any size may be passed through the slot; butthe sum in weight must be sufficient to move the index mechanism. Themoney may be putinto the slotopening before or while standing on theplatform. I, however, prefer to do so while the weight is on theplatform; but in any case the index cannot move before the person orother weight is on the platform, the index mechanism being moved by theweight of the money only, and will then follow the motion of theweighing mechanism.

In some cases, instead of the cords G G I may employ steel bands, as isshown in Figs. 7 and 8, and I then fix one end of such thin steel bandsin each groove of the wheel H, but in opposite directions. To the otherend of one ban d I attach the money-receivin g ves sels M, and to theother end of the second hand I attach a couuterbalance-weight G".

I use one friction-wheel G on each side of the groove-wheel G, bearingagainst the steel bands to keep them in the grooves, the wheel G beingsuitably mounted for that purptme.

In Figs. 7 and 8, referred to, the wheel G is mounted on a spindle, andthe bearings of the spindle F are on friction-wheels F, mounted on thebearing-plate F One end of the spindle F projects through the hole inthe center of the dial and carries the i ndexiinger. The pinion F may begeared to the toothed rack H in the manner shown in Figs. 9, 13, and 14;and in Fig. 9 a right-angled foot.- piece I-I, formed with the rack II,is pivoted to the upper end of the metal bar ll, so as to form aworking-joint, and under the bottom of the rack is a coiled spring II",resting on a foot-piece H to keep the rack to its work in mesh with thepinion F, and against the back of the rack II and opposite the pinion afriction-wheel J is mounted on the plate I\' to aid in keeping the rackin gear with the pinion. This pinion F is not shown in Figs. 11 and 12for the sake of clearness.

The guide socket or sleeve H may be either round, square, flat, or othershape, provided the metal bar II fits it so as to allow it to movefreely vertically; but when a round metal bar H, as shown in Figs. '3and 10, is used the guide-socket H" is slotted to allow the twoprojecting pins that are fixed into the round bar If to move up and downthe slots and prevent the said bar from turning round.

Various alternative arrangements may be employed for guiding the rackand holding it in gear with the pinion F. For example,

the rack H may, as is shown in Figs. 1]. and 12, work in a fixed guidecomposed of a flat ICC IIO

hollow case or socket H carried by the framework. The hollow socket Hhas an aperture therein for the pinion F to work into the rack, withwhich it is kept in gear. Alternative arrangements may be employed,instead of the screw-collar 1 1 for adjusting the rack. For example, asshown in front and side elevation in Figs. 13 and 14, I may employ ascrew H screwing onto a bracket K, fixed to the frame. On the bracketthere are fixed guide straps, loops, or brackets, through which the rackH passes, and the screw H acts as a stop abutting against the top of therack.

Instead of the cross-head C being used, as shown in Fig. 1, I may usesuch a cross-head as is shown in Fig. 15, having a slot and stoppin forguiding the same, and provided with the fiat-headed abutting screw L.

By providing the base part of the framework with pull-handles the weight.and strength may be had for one payment, the weight being firstindicated;then if the handles are pulled the strength will be indicatedin addition to the weight.

The action of the machine is as follows: \Vhen a person places himself(or a body to be weighed is placed) on theplatform E, the

compound levers D will pull down the rod C and the cross-head 0,extending the springs I) B to a distance corresponding with the weighton the platform. IVhen the money is placed in the chute P, it passesinto the receiving-vessel M, and causes the said vessel M to immediatelydescend and the weight G to rise, causing the grooved wheel G, also thepointer or finger, the spindle F, and pinion F, to rotate, and the rackH is thereby made to descend through the socket or sleeve I-l until thehead H of the metal bar of the rack abuts onto the head of the screw Lin the cross-head 0, when the weight of the person or body on theplatform will be indicated on the dle 1. As the coin-receiving vessel Mdescends, the catch 0 is tilted up by the weight of the vessel and coinand allows the flange M to pass. It then falls back to its normalposition. WVhen the weight is taken off the platform E, the springs B Bcontract, and the cross-head C pushes up the rack II, so causing themechanism to resume its normal position. As the coin-receiving vessel Mrises, the flange M comes in contact with the catch 0, which is nowrigid, and so tilts the coin-receiving vessel M, as shown by dottedlines in Fig. 3, and thus releases the coin by allowing it to fallthrough the bottom of the vessel M into a suitable bag or receiver.Springs N are provided to prevent the jarring of the coinreceiver M inits upward movement.

Two or more of the catches 0 may be fixed at various distances apart onthe vertical rod, if desired.

I claim as my invention 1. In automatic coin-freed weighing-niachines,the combination, with the cross-head C and its operating mechanism, ofthe pulley t, the cord around the same, the coin-receiving vessel M,attached to said cord, the vertical guides for the coin-receiver, thespindleF, upon which the pulley is mounted, and the pinion and pointerupon said spindle, and the, rack-bar meshing with said pinion, wherebythe descent of the coin-vessel and revolution of the pinion permit therack-bar todescend until stopped by contact with the cross-head,substantially as and for the purposes specified.

2. In an automatic coin-freed Weighing-machine, the compoundweighing-levers D, rod C coiled springs 13 B, and T-shaped crosshead 0,all operated by the weight or pressure of the person or object to beweighed, in combination with the separately acting and detached rack H,the pinion F, the spindle F, the grooved pulleys G, and the cords G Gand the coin-receiving vessel M and its counterpoise G all operated bythe weight of a coin or several coins, as set forth.

3. In automatic coin-freed weighing-machines, the weighing platform,Weighingsprings, connecting-rods, and the cross-head C, in combinationwith the receiving-vessel M, with guides N and counter-weight G thecords G G pulley G, spindle F, the pointer and the pinion F, and therack I-I, said indicating mechanism being balanced, as described,whereby accuracy of indication insured, as set forth.

4. In weighing-machines, the combination, with the cross-head O, of theweighing-rod an d the screw L in same, the coin-vessel M, guides N,counterweight G the cords G G pulley G, the pointer and pinion F,carried by spindle F, and the rack H, the adjustment nut or collar H therack-guide H, and rack-head H whereby the pointer may be adjusted, asset forth. I

5. The coin receptacle or vessel M, open at the top and bottom andhaving pivots M and an arm M a frame surrounding said vessel and inwhich it is hung by said pivots, the lower part of said frame formingthe bottom of the receptacle and serving to retain a coin, incombination with the weighing mechanism and a stop to swing thecoin-receptacle upon the upward movement anddeliver the coin,substantially as specified.

6. In automatic coin-freed weighing-machin es,the combination,with aweighted cord and pulley around which the cord passes, of the guides N,the strap-frame 1W to which one end of the cordissecured,the tiltingcoinreceiving vessel M, open at both ends and pivoted in the frame M andhaving an arm W, and the latch 0, for operating the arm, whereby thelower part of the frame H forms a bottom to the coin-vessel to retainthe coin until the same is dischcrged by tilting the vessel,substantially as specified.

HENRY KNIGHT.

IVitnesses:

CHAS. G. VINCENT,

Solicitor, Rydc, Isle of T V ighfi. WM. GRIFFIN,

EZmfie Zd, mm" Ryde, Law; Clerk.

IIO

